Sh*t Derby Girls Say from the DC Rollergirls

Sh*t Derby Girls Say from the DC Rollergirls.

Hello there

So... I guess it's been a year since I wrote on this blog.  How sad.  I have no good excuses.  Anyway.... what has brought me out of blogger retirement?  This:

"Impact! Miniatures is pleased to release its first set of 28mm scale roller derby miniatures. The set includes a jammer, pivot and three blockers. This represents the first of three different team sets that were created as part of Impact's upcoming game Impact City Roller Derby. The game is currently in beta testing and is expected to be released in 1Q12. The other two miniature sets will be released in the coming weeks. "

The miniatures were sculpted by Patrick Keith, and painted by Laughing Ferret Studio. You can purchase them here

"This is my church, and these are my vestments."

Dreadnought's roller derby quilt, and related personal posts, are making me cry.

Protect your Bearings

I don't know about you, but our practice floor is filthy.  Does anybody have a practice floor that isn't?  I recently discovered a new item that has helped a lot with keeping my bearings clean for a longer period of time.  They are called Grind King Rims Bearing Protection or Grind King Rims Axle Thread Saver.  There might be other brands, as well.  I got mine at a skateboard shop, but you can also buy them online. They come in funky colors, too.

How to fix skates that are loose in the heels Part II

 

Yes, those are bungee cords.  

How Roller Derby is Different from 2 years ago

Photo Credit: James Calder

I had a couple of comments on an old post "How Roller Derby is Different from 3 months ago" which has finally gotten me to write a new post.  Let's call it "How Roller Derby is Different from 2 years ago."

Roller Derby is A LOT different then it was when I first started.  At a practice a couple of weeks ago a new freshmeat skater asked me if it got any easier.  In retrospect I'm not actually sure what she was referring to, but my answer was that it gets easier in some ways and it gets harder in other ways.  I think that physically it gets easier because your body has gotten used to this whole crazy derby thing.  Which isn't to say that derby is easy, just that it now feels like a normal physical activity that I do, and not like the most incredibly difficult thing my body has ever even contemplated doing, which it was in the past.  It gets harder in terms of time commitment.  When you're just starting out no one expects you to do anything except learn to skate better.  Once you get decent at that, a whole new world of committees and responsibilities opens up.  A person could spend an infinite amount of time on derby work.  The more involved you get the more opportunities there are to spend more time on derby and the more people will start expecting you to spend more time on derby.

So how is it different specifically for me?

• New Stuff
• as you get better, you want new and better stuff.  I just bought new bushings.  2 years ago I couldn't even tell you what bushings were, let alone known when I needed new ones.  I also just bought some replacement axle nuts, cause apparently those wear out.  Who knew?  I would love love love to buy new skates, but I can't afford that now, so they will have to wait.  I have had many many different wheels.  I was skating with Atom G-Rods for the longest time but have just switched to Sugars.  
• New aches and pains
• There's always something, it seems.  2 weeks ago my back suddenly went out on me in the middle of practice.  Nothing particular happened -- I didn't fall or get hit -- I was just skating in a paceline and my back suddenly felt like it fell somehow.  I thought I just needed a stretch but within a few minutes I was unable to stand upright.  I spent the next 5 days lying on my back and unable to do much of anything.  But, hey, I'm fine now.
• Some people seem to go their entire derby careers without a single major injury.  Then there are folks like me.  To date my injuries include a broken arm (L), torn PCL (R knee), torn MCL (L knee), several broken ribs, bruised tailbone, sprained MCL (R knee), and a separated shoulder (R).  And that's just the major stuff that kept me from skating for more than a week or two.  
• New friends
• The best difference between then and now is how much more comfortable I am around people and how much more accepted I feel in my derby family.  Part of that is just time, but I think a lot of it has to do with transferring to a new league.  The DC Rollergirls are made of awesomeness.  
• New Responsibilities
• I was just recently voted in as co-captain of my new team, the Cherry Blossom Bombshells.  This turn of events came as a bit of a surprise to me, but I am excited and gratified to have this opportunity and I am really enjoying my new responsibilities.
• I am also now a WFTDA rep for my league, which is a whole other level of derby involvement.  I love being able to see some of what goes into making roller derby run and being a part of shaping the future of our fabulous sport.  What an amazing opportunity!

Check out all this DC Rollergirl goodness

Photo: Tony Richards (that's my teammate Miso Knotty!)

Tony Richards Photography

November 2009

http://tonyrichardsphoto.blogspot.com/2009/11/dc-rollergirls.html

Hell on Wheels: Roller Derby in Washington
By Gwendolyn Purdom
Washingtonian, December 2009
http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/14157.html

The District Body Slam: DC Rollergirls
by Kate Michael
The District Dish, November 2009
http://www.kstreetkate.net/2009/11/district-dish-dc-roller-girls.html

Hell on Wheels: D.C. Rollergirls Play Hard, Fight Harder
By Veronica Macias
NBC Washington, Nov. 17, 2009
http://www.nbcwashington.com/around-town/events/Hell-on-Wheels-70289597.html

Helmet design contest

From Triple Eight:

Triple Eight is launching a ground breaking global contest today and we're inviting you to participate and help spread the word. We are giving our customers, friends, and anyone with some design chops the opportunity to work up a design that could adorn one of our signature helmets; the Triple Eight Brainsaver Skate Helmet and our Old School Audio Snow Helmet! The winner of the contest, chosen by the Jovoto community (www.jovoto.com), will receive $1000 cash. Even if you don't win the cash prize, if your helmet design is chosen to be incorporated into our product line, you'll receive 5% of the wholesale price of each helmet sold, with the potential to have your design rocked by athletes from around the world.

You can sign up for the contest through http://www.triple8.com/helmet-design-contest/.

Please forward this to anyone you know that might be interested. Feel free to post it to your website, social network pages, blog about it, write about it, print and hand it out, etc. We're super excited to get our customers and friends involved in the design of a new product and are looking forward to seeing what the community develops!!

Updates and Links

Wow.  It has been so long since I wrote in here that I'm not really sure where to start.  Here are some highlights:

• I crashed into a wall and separated my shoulder (Boo!)
• I was teamed and am now a Cherry Blossom Bombshell!  That means pink pink pink! (Yay!)
• My shoulder is all better (Yay!)
• But then I sprained my MCL (Boo!)
• I went to Eastern Regionals (Go Boston!) and Nationals (Oly crap!)
• I'm starting to think about doing some coaching (Yay?)
• I'm thinking about buying a heat press (Umm...)
• I'm really tired of not skating (Duh)

And, here are a couple more links of roller derby goodness:

• zebra huddle (http://www.zebrahuddle.com/)
• derby helper (http://derbyhelper.blogspot.com/)
• your mom likes roller derby (http://www.yourmomlikesrollerderby.com/)
• flattrack (http://flattrack.blogspot.com/)
• derbuy (http://www.derbuy.com/)

Moves and changes

Big changes in my life mean big changes in my roller derby life.  Mr. Mayhem got a job in Washington DC, so that means we have moved to our national's capitol.  And what is the first thing I did?  You guessed it!  I got in touch with the DC Rollergirls and was at a practice 2 days after arriving.  Yeehaw!  Can I just say how awesome derby is?  I've been in town only a couple of weeks and I already have a bunch of new friends.  The DCRG girls have been super awesomely welcoming and I can't wait to get on a team and start kicking ass!

Just thinking out loud....

I'm not sure about the fashion merits of this Jean Paul Gaultier ensemble but it looks like it would be mighty useful on the track.

East Coast Derby Extravaganza 2009

Last year I tore my PCL just before ECE and wasn't even sure I was going to go. I went anyway, and had a great time watching, but of course I wished I could have skated. This year I wasn't going to let anything stop me. Luckily, I ended up on 3 challenge bouts. Unluckily, all three were scheduled back to back to back. First up: Superheroes vs. Villains. My name is probably more suited to the villains, but I always try to use my Mayhem Mojo for good, so I skated for the superheroes. Sadly, evil won over good, but we gave them a run for their money. Next up was Rice vs. Beans, which was definitely my favorite bout. Everyone on this team was super awesome and I had a great time skating with them. And, of course, Rice kicked ass (see score in photo). Last up was Babes in Skateland vs. Bruisejolais Nouveau. I was a Babe and was super psyched to rock my new baby blue ruffle butt panties for this bout. Babes won. Good times.

Oh, yeah, there were some WFTDA bouts, too. Sadly I was not able to watch the Boston v Carolina game (which happened at the same time as my challenge bouts), but I was there for all of the Boston v Windy City bout which was amazing. Also, there was a girl from Windy City who had a spectacularly sparkly shiny glittery silver helmet, which I covet.

Can't wait for next year!

Boston Derby Dames at the Boston Pride Parade 2009

The Boston Pride Parade was wicked awesome fun. It's nice having everyone yell and cheer for you. It was also nice when the rugby players in front of us gave us a lift up Beacon Hill (Thank you!).

More photos here.

Keeping all your derby crap clean

Promise of Derby has a nice post on how one keeps all of one's roller derby pads and gear clean and fresh-smelling. Or at least how to minimize the nastiness as much as possible.

Here are some other hopefully helpful links:

• Derby Laundry (Promise of Derby)
• Roller Girls Yahoo Group discussion on Derby Laundry
• Why your pads smell like Doritos -- here
• advice from brawlinbettys here
  
• advice from hip domestics here
• advice from Derby Nation here
• advice from the Gotham Girls board here
• WIN high performance sport detergent
• Penguin Sport Wash

Roller Derby Injury Reporting Form

Awhile ago I created an injury report form for my league, to help us keep track of our injuries, and hopefully help prevent them in the future. It is a form created with Google Docs which can be submitted online (which people seem to find easier to do). I thought I would post a generic version here in case anyone else is interested in using it as a template for their own league.

Generic Roller Derby Injury Report Form:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=rG6K629ny2yXoCicZGydZ_A&hl=en

If you are not familiar with Google forms, you should follow the link above, and then create a copy. Once you have your copy you can edit the form for your own particular needs. If anyone has any questions, I would be happy to help.

Sweet DIY Roller Skates from CRAFT Magazine

I'll never forget being in Chicago years ago, scoping someone rolling by in some awesome platform roller skates, and wondering where she had found such a rare score. Well, we all know the best way to originality and customization is DIY! Enter CRAFT Volume 07, our Shoeware issue. What issue on shoes would be complete without DIY Roller Skates? This how-to is written by none other than the fine folks over at skates.com, retailers of roller skates and skateboards since 1975. The step-by-step build was done by Richard Humphreys, who has been a professional skater since 1978 and is the creator of rollerdance.com. Needless to say, the man has mad skills!

Check out the full article from CRAFT here along with a video podcast demo below.

Boston Derby Dames Bout #4

DOUBLE HEADER

Bout #1, 5 pm: Boston Massacre vs. Rocky Mountain Rollergirls (Denver, Colorado)

Bout #2, 7 pm: Cosmonaughties vs. Wicked Pissahs

Halftime sets by The Downbeat 5

After party in the Fez Room with DJ John Barera

Doors at 4 pm, Bout #1 at 5 pm, Bout #2 at 7 pm
Shriners Auditorium, Wilmington, MA

No car? Commuter rail, Zipcar, and ride sharing suggestions
Tickets $14 in advance, $16 at the door

VIP tickets $20 online only—Available until midnight on Saturday, May 9. Includes guaranteed seating between turns 1 and 2, merch goodies, and skating waitresses so you'll never have to wait in line for concessions.

Bring a canned good to be donated to the Greater Boston Food Bank and get derby swag including pins, stickers, and signed posters.

Bout #1: At the June 2008 East Coast Extravaganza, the Massacre took on the Rocky Mountain Roller Girls and lost by just 18 points as RMRG pulled away in the final jams. Will home rink advantage turn things in the Massacre's favor this time? Or will Rocky Mountain's high-altitude endurance give them an insurmountable edge? Read a recap of the June 2008 bout.

Bout #2: It's been 11 months since the Cosmos and Pissahs last took the track together in the Season Two championship bout. Both teams have lost top players to the Boston Masscre roster, with the Cosmos missing star jammers Claire D. Way and Maura Buse, and the Pissahs now minus Shellby Shattered and 2008 Wicked Pissah rookie of the year KrushPuppy. But in the meantime, new stars are emerging: keep your eyes on Cosmo co-captain and jammer Mrs. Dash as well as Varga Bomber, co-captain of the Pissahs and making her mark as a fearsome pivot.

Oh, yeah, and I'm skating in this one! Whoohoo!

Hell on Wheels showing in Boston this Friday!

I have one thing to say about this: If you play roller derby, you need to watch this movie.

From the Boston Derby Dames website:

Friday, February 20, 2009
Regent Theater, 7 Medford St., Arlington (map)
Wheelchair and MBTA accessible

Free parking across the street
$8 online, $10 at the door . 8 pm

BDD is proud to sponsor a screening of Hell on Wheels--a documentary of the birth of modern day roller derby in 2001 in Austin, Texas--at the historic Regent Theater in Arlington.

What began with plans of creating a circus-like spectacle on skates has spawned more than 200 skater-run leagues in North America and Europe, as entrepreneurship and serious athleticism have become just as big a part of the roller derby revival as campy pseudonyms and sassy uniforms.

Catch scenes of BDD's recently relocated General Lee Feisty in her days with TXRD's Rhinestone Cowgirls. Read more about the movie at the Hell on Wheels site.

Derby season is here!!! Boston Massacre vs. Maine Roller Derby Port Authorities

Boston Massacre vs. Maine Roller Derby Port Authorities (Portland)
Doors at 5 pm, Bout at 6 pm
Shriners Auditorium, Wilmington, MA
Tickets $14 in advance, $16 at the door
SEASON TICKETS now available! 9 nights, 17 bouts for $117 — just $6. 88 per bout!

Season Three kicks off with a single-header bout between the Boston
Massacre travel team and our northern nemesisters, the ever-ready
Maine Roller Derby Port Authorities. The Port Authorities wrapped up an
undefeated season in October 2008 after scoring victories against Long
Island, Connecticut, Montreal, and Providence Roller Derby.

Countryfried metal at halftime by Slim Jim & The Madcows.
After party in the Fez Room with DJ Sir Trix-a-Lot, until midnight.

Bigger isn't always better

Roller Derby Diva has a useful post about skate boot size. I think a lot of skaters (myself included) make the mistake of buying too big because our shoe-shopping experiences have told us that, when in doubt, it's better to have the shoes fit a little big than a little small. When it comes to skates, the opposite is true.

It shouldn’t fit like a normal shoe. It should fit more like a sock, a really expensive leather sock. Maybe this is common knowledge to other skaters who might be reading this, but it sure wasn’t to me.

--Lauren Bishop (Roller Derby Diva)

And then you've gone and bought an expensive pair of skates and by the time you realize they're not fitting right, you can't afford to buy another pair. Blah. This is where I am right now. Really wanting a new pair of boot. And I still haven't found a beer koozie to cut up....